HIV infected 293T cell. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a 293T cell infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, orange dots).

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HIV infected 293T cell. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a 293T cell infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, orange dots). Small spherical virus particles, visible on the surface, are in the process of budding from the cell membrane. Any non highlighted vesicles of uneven shape are exosomes, thought to be involved in cell communication, transmission of disease and are being investigated as a means of drug delivery. Because 293T cells have lost their ability to protect themselves from viral infection, something that all cells are normally very good at, 293T are easily transfected, or infected, and can be used to produce large amounts of virus. This makes these cells an extraordinarily valuable tool in medicine and research. Magnification x 12000 at 10cm wide. Specimen courtesy of Greg Towers, UCL.

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Size: 4908px × 3561px
Photo credit: © STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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